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A TOUGH WALK FOR A YOUTH. 



About twelve years ago I was conveyed, along with my son Victor, 

 from Bayou Sarah to the mouth of the Ohio, on board the steamer Mag- 

 net, commanded by Mr M'Knight, to Avhom I here again offer my best 

 thanks for his attentions. The very sight of the waters of that beautiful 

 river filled me with joy as we approached the little village of Trinity, 

 where we were landed along with several other passengers, the water be- 

 ing too low to enable the vessel to proceed to Louisville. No horses could 

 be procured, and as I was anxious to continue my journey without delay, 

 I consigned my effects to the care of the tavern-keeper, who engaged to 

 have them forwarded by the first opportunity. My son, who was not 

 fourteen, with aU the ardour of youth, considered himself able to accom- 

 plish on foot the long journey which Ave contemplated. Two of the pas- 

 sengers evinced a desire to accompany us, " provided," said the tallest and 

 stoutest of them, " the lad can keep up. My business," he continued, 

 " is urgent, and I shall push for Frankfort pretty fast." Dinner, to 

 which we had contributed some fish from the river, being over, my boy 

 and I took a ramble along the shores of Cash Creek, on which some years 

 before I had been detained several weeks by ice. We slept at the tavern, 

 and next morning prepared for our journey, and were joined by our com- 

 panions, although it was past twelve before we crossed the creek. 



One of our fellow-travellers, named Rose, who was a delicate and 

 gentlemanly person, acknowledged that he was not a good walker, and 

 said he was glad that my son was with us, as he might be able to keep up 

 with the lively youth. The other, a burly personage, at once pushed for- 

 ward. We walked in Indian file along the narrow track cut through the 

 canes, passed a wood-yard, and entered the burnt forest, in which we met 

 with so many logs and briars, that we judged it better to make for the 

 rivei-, the course of which we followed over a bed of pebbles, my son some- 

 times a-head, and again falling back, until we reached America, a villao-e 

 having a fine situation, but with a shallow approach to the shore. Here 

 we halted at the best house, as every traveller ought to do, whether pedes- 

 trian or equestrian, for he is there sure of being well treated, and will not 

 have more to pay than in an inferior place. Now we constituted Mr Rose 



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